Covid in Paradise: Are we really lucky to be living on our boat right now?

Sargo and her crew are anchored off of St. John, US Virgin Islands. We are safe, healthy and luckier than most.  We are good for now, but anxious that things could change at any moment.  Although it might seem as though life goes on as usual for us out here on a sailboat – that truly isn’t the case.  It’s been a very stressful and scary time for all of the people living and traveling on their boats.  At this point most international borders have been closed, which is a very significant thing for people like us.  We are very susceptible to the weather and need to be able to move our family and home in cycle with weather conditions in order to be safe.  Many sailors left one country to sail on to another – which could be a multi-day or even multi-week endeavor - only to be told they cannot come into the country.  Sailing from country to country is no small thing, you have to carefully pick your weather window and sail with the prevailing conditions.  It’s often not possible to just sail back or sail to the next country. With more and more countries being closed, some sailors are risking being locked out entirely.   The country of Carriacou, in the southern Caribbean, is currently banning people who are living on their boats from coming to shore for any reason. Grenada has strongly encouraged all non-residents, including those living on their boats to return to their home country.  However, they have also closed their airport to all incoming and outgoing flights?  Cuban is kicking all foreign boats out of the country – but to go where? We feel somewhat better that we are currently in a US Territory, but we are still at the mercy of rules being made that could greatly affect us.  Some cruisers have decided to leave their boats, put them on land, and fly back home.

Prior to Covid 19 our family plan was to island hop slowly down the Caribbean chain getting to visit a handful of the islands.   That is clearly not going to happen as nearly all the islands are closed.  The most pressing concern for us at the moment is where we will go once hurricane season comes around.  Based on our insurance, we need to be south of Carriacou by July 1. We have at least two safe months here – April and May – before we need to make a plan for hurricane season.  One option might be to sail Sargo all the way back up to Maine – a 10 day+ sail.  We just don’t know yet. 

For the time being, we are staying anchored in Hansen Bay, St. John and are focusing on boat work, school, family time, and getting some exercise.  We truly are in a beautiful place, we have lots of (dry) provisions and so far there are no signs of food shortages.  I hate to think about what might happen if the hospital system gets overwhelmed down here and we need to access care for any reason.  But I suppose many of you in the US are having the same concerns.  Last night as we were eating dinner together in the cockpit, we all remarked how in many ways what we are doing right now is exactly what we’ve been hoping to do during this family sabbatical.  We are currently relieved from the stress of constantly moving the boat, so we have more time for learning, exercise, cooking, and family time.  We are in a group of other family boats that provide significant emotional and logistical support. If we could throw our phones in the water and live in our little bubble we would hardly know of the hardships all around us. 

I’m not going to lie – part of me wishes I was “home” in Maine and in the same situation as everyone else dealing with things together. I do however, think we are better off where we are aboard Sargo, enjoying a bit more freedom (for now) and getting ample fresh air, sunshine and saltwater.  The cruising lifestyle is full of many stresses that are hard to see from land life. So throwing Covid 19 and border closings into the mix really ups the ante!  But we have landed Sargo in a great place and by all accounts we are still living the life.  We think of all of our friends and family often and the many challenges you’re facing.  Please feel free to reach out! 

One final thought for everyone.  Please remember we are all in this together.  We are currently an outsider here in the US Virgin Islands.  My mom and her partner Howard are currently stuck in the Bahamas at our family house and are therefore also “others.”  Please be kind to each other.  If you are an outsider please help keep the local residents safe by following the rules and limiting exposure. 

Recent list of travel restrictions…this is likely already out of date!

TRINIDAD is closed.
ST LUCIA is closed.
ARUBA is closed
BONAIRE is closed.
CURAÇAO is closed.
BVI's are closed.
MARIE-GALANTE and THE SAINTS are closed.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC is closed.
ST MAARTEN (Dutch) is closed Monday. It appears the French side will be doing the same.
ANGUILLA has a mandatory 14 day quarantine.
BERMUDA is closed.
DOMINICA is closed.
GRENADA is closed.
MONTSERRAT has a mandatory 14 day quarantine.
MARTINIQUE is closed.
GUADELOUPE is closed.

BAHAMAS is closed.
TURKS & CAICOS will be closed as of Tuesday, March 24

ANTIGUA only has check in and health at Heritage Quay in St John's, you must pre register with www.eseaclear.com . Call ahead using the numbers attached to make life easier.

ST KITTS Port Zante (including Marina), Deep Water Port (Bird Rock), Christophe Harbour and New Guinea (St. Kitts Marine Works). You must dock at one of these points of entry. The list of banned countries and nationals from those countries is growing.

NEVIS Charlestown Pier and Long Point Deep Water Port. You must dock at one of these points of entry